Lexus ES300H vs Volvo XC40

What's the difference?

What’s the closest thing we have to a modern-day Holden Statesman/Caprice?

If, like General Motors, you obliterate Australia’s Own from existence altogether, you’re left with time-honoured rivals also made in this country, like the Ford Fairlane, Chrysler by Chrysler and Toyota’s Crown and Avalon.

But they’re also all in history’s dustbin (well, the American ones, anyway), leaving the humble Camry as the sole living nameplate with any connection to Australian manufacturing.

And since the Lexus ES is a close relative, we’re going to take a fresh look at the latest version, with a view of it as a bit of a survivor of a bygone era – where aspirational vehicles were created from normal family sedans.

Just like the Fairlane, Crown and of course, the Caprice.

Launched in mid 2018 but facelifted in 2021, we test the ultimate version of the seventh-generation ES, the 300h Sports Luxury – or SL, if we’re to make yet another tenuous connection to long-gone Holdens.

Let’s go!

The XC40 Recharge Twin Motor is the flagship model for the segment leading small electric SUV from Volvo.

Well positioned in terms of price, specifications and driving range, it continues to prove itself a fierce rival to the Mercedes-Benz EQA, Lexus UX and newcomer BMW iX1.

But does it bring its A-game to every attribute buyers in the small electric SUV segment demand? In this review, we put it to test to find out.